The South Pacific’s third major tropical cyclone this season is already bringing strong to gale force winds and heavy rainfall to Vanuatu, with New Caledonia likely to receive a direct hit later in the week.

Published 5 years ago

Vanuatu, which lies north east of New Caledonia, had been experiencing heavy rain and strong winds from a tropical low which has now developed and intensified into a Category Two Cyclone Uesi.

Vanuatu’s National Disaster Management Office has issued a warning for strong winds, heavy rainfall and flash flooding in the north and central provinces.

The Fiji Met Office reported that Cyclone Uesi was moving south west at a speed of about six knots with winds of 50 knots close to the centre increasing to 65 knots by Monday, February 10.

Dangerous seas and and damaging winds

As Cyclone Uesi moves away from Vanuatu, weather forecasters are predicting it could intensify into a Category 3 tropical cyclone, passing directly over New Caledonia around Tuesday or Wednesday.

Then later in the week as Uesi moves south into the Tasman Sea, the eastern coast of Australia from Brisbane to Sydney could also experience heavy rainfall and dangerous seas.

Another Cyclone to follow

New Zealand’s Weatherwatch website expects the remnants of Uesi to drift closer to that country with a much larger tropical cyclone likely to form north to north east of  Fiji, possibly as early as Friday February 14.

The website says the islands of Tonga look most exposed to this new cyclone by Monday, February 17 with a possible direct hit.   This second tropical cyclone may also impact Samoa with heavy rain.

Related links:

Vanuatu issues cyclone warning – Radio New Zealand

Fiji Meteorological Service – current warnings

Category 2 Cyclone Uesi to move into Tasman Sea – weatherwatch.co.nz

Fiji Meterological Service Tropical Cyclone Outlook 2019/2020

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Noonsite has not independently verified this information.